Editors’ Note:

Welcome, dear readers, to Unlikely Story #12: The Journal of Unlikely Academia. This time around, rather than offering you a specialized subject, we are exploring the pursuit of knowledge itself. From the hallowed halls of venerable supernatural institutions, to fieldwork on an alien space station, and the shelves of your university library and beyond, the authors in this issue are celebrating learning in all its forms.

Here you will find scholars searching for the truth behind monsters, and monsters searching for the truth within themselves. You’ll find librarians struggling to set information free, and teachers struggling to open the doors of learning to everyone equally, especially those society most often overlooks and forgets. You’ll find metaphysical questions, the place where art and myth intersect, issues of translation, and an unorthodox and extremely personal method of studying alien culture.

So sit up straight, tuck in your shirt, spit out that gum, and pay attention. Yes, this will be on the test. Luckily, the test only has one question — did you enjoy these stories? If so, please tell your family, your neighbors, your friends, and random strangers on the street. There’s always room for a few more bodies in the Unlikely Story classroom.